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Scicchitano S, Montalcini Y, Lucchino V, Melocchi V, Gigantino V, Chiarella E, Bianchi F, Weisz A, Mesuraca M. Enhanced ZNF521 expression induces an aggressive phenotype in human ovarian carcinoma cell lines. PLoS One 2022; 17:e0274785. [PMID: 36191006 PMCID: PMC9529122 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0274785] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2022] [Accepted: 09/05/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Epithelial ovarian carcinoma (EOC) is the most lethal gynecological tumor, that almost inevitably relapses and develops chemo-resistance. A better understanding of molecular events underlying the biological behavior of this tumor, as well as identification of new biomarkers and therapeutic targets are the prerequisite to improve its clinical management. ZNF521 gene amplifications are present in >6% of OCs and its overexpression is associated with poor prognosis, suggesting that it may play an important role in OC. Increased ZNF521 expression resulted in an enhancement of OC HeyA8 and ES-2 cell growth and motility. Analysis of RNA isolated from transduced cells by RNA-Seq and qRT-PCR revealed that several genes involved in growth, proliferation, migration and tumor invasiveness are differentially expressed following increased ZNF521 expression. The data illustrate a novel biological role of ZNF521 in OC that, thanks to the early and easy detection by RNA-Seq, can be used as biomarker for identification and treatment of OC patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stefania Scicchitano
- Laboratory of Molecular Haematopoiesis and Stem Cell Biology, Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University Magna Græcia, Catanzaro, Italy
- * E-mail: (SS); (MM)
| | - Ylenia Montalcini
- Laboratory of Molecular Haematopoiesis and Stem Cell Biology, Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University Magna Græcia, Catanzaro, Italy
| | - Valeria Lucchino
- Laboratory of Stem Cell Biology Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine University Magna Graecia, Catanzaro, Italy
| | - Valentina Melocchi
- Unit of Cancer Biomarkers, Fondazione IRCCS–Casa Sollievo Della Sofferenza, San Giovanni Rotondo (FG), Italy
| | - Valerio Gigantino
- Laboratory of Molecular Medicine and Genomics, Department of Medicine, Surgery and Dentistry, University of Salerno, Baronissi (SA), Italy
| | - Emanuela Chiarella
- Laboratory of Molecular Haematopoiesis and Stem Cell Biology, Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University Magna Græcia, Catanzaro, Italy
| | - Fabrizio Bianchi
- Unit of Cancer Biomarkers, Fondazione IRCCS–Casa Sollievo Della Sofferenza, San Giovanni Rotondo (FG), Italy
| | - Alessandro Weisz
- Laboratory of Molecular Medicine and Genomics, Department of Medicine, Surgery and Dentistry, University of Salerno, Baronissi (SA), Italy
- Genome Research Center for Health, University of Salerno Campus, Baronissi (SA), Italy
| | - Maria Mesuraca
- Laboratory of Molecular Haematopoiesis and Stem Cell Biology, Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University Magna Græcia, Catanzaro, Italy
- * E-mail: (SS); (MM)
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Targeting of Mevalonate-Isoprenoid Pathway in Acute Myeloid Leukemia Cells by Bisphosphonate Drugs. Biomedicines 2022; 10:biomedicines10051146. [PMID: 35625883 PMCID: PMC9138592 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines10051146] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2022] [Revised: 05/09/2022] [Accepted: 05/16/2022] [Indexed: 11/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Metabolic reprogramming represents a hallmark of tumorigenesis to sustain survival in harsh conditions, rapid growth and metastasis in order to resist to cancer therapies. These metabolic alterations involve glucose metabolism, known as the Warburg effect, increased glutaminolysis and enhanced amino acid and lipid metabolism, especially the cholesterol biosynthesis pathway known as the mevalonate pathway and these are upregulated in several cancer types, including acute myeloid leukemia (AML). In particular, it was demonstrated that the mevalonate pathway has a pivotal role in cellular transformation. Therefore, targeting this biochemical process with drugs such as statins represents a promising therapeutic strategy to be combined with other anticancer treatments. In the last decade, several studies have revealed that amino-bisphosphonates (BP), primarily used for bone fragility disorders, also exhibit potential anti-cancer activity in leukemic cells, as well as in patients with symptomatic multiple myeloma. Indeed, these compounds inhibit the farnesyl pyrophosphate synthase, a key enzyme in the mevalonate pathway, reducing isoprenoid formation of farnesyl pyrophosphate and geranylgeranyl pyrophosphate. This, in turn, inhibits the prenylation of small Guanosine Triphosphate-binding proteins, such as Ras, Rho, Rac, Rab, which are essential for regulating cell survival membrane ruffling and trafficking, interfering with cancer key signaling events involved in clonal expansion and maturation block of progenitor cells in myeloid hematological malignancies. Thus, in this review, we discuss the recent advancements about bisphosphonates’ effects, especially zoledronate, analyzing the biochemical mechanisms and anti-tumor effects on AML model systems. Future studies will be oriented to investigate the clinical relevance and significance of BP treatment in AML, representing an attractive therapeutic strategy that could be integrated into chemotherapy.
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Chiarella E, Aloisio A, Scicchitano S, Todoerti K, Cosentino EG, Lico D, Neri A, Amodio N, Bond HM, Mesuraca M. ZNF521 Enhances MLL-AF9-Dependent Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transformation in Acute Myeloid Leukemias by Altering the Gene Expression Landscape. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms221910814. [PMID: 34639154 PMCID: PMC8509509 DOI: 10.3390/ijms221910814] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/17/2021] [Revised: 09/28/2021] [Accepted: 09/29/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Leukemias derived from the MLL-AF9 rearrangement rely on dysfunctional transcriptional networks. ZNF521, a transcription co-factor implicated in the control of hematopoiesis, has been proposed to sustain leukemic transformation in collaboration with other oncogenes. Here, we demonstrate that ZNF521 mRNA levels correlate with specific genetic aberrations: in particular, the highest expression is observed in AMLs bearing MLL rearrangements, while the lowest is detected in AMLs with FLT3-ITD, NPM1, or CEBPα double mutations. In cord blood-derived CD34+ cells, enforced expression of ZNF521 provides a significant proliferative advantage and enhances MLL-AF9 effects on the induction of proliferation and the expansion of leukemic progenitor cells. Transcriptome analysis of primary CD34+ cultures displayed subsets of genes up-regulated by MLL-AF9 or ZNF521 single transgene overexpression as well as in MLL-AF9/ZNF521 combinations, at either the early or late time points of an in vitro leukemogenesis model. The silencing of ZNF521 in the MLL-AF9 + THP-1 cell line coherently results in an impairment of growth and clonogenicity, recapitulating the effects observed in primary cells. Taken together, these results underscore a role for ZNF521 in sustaining the self-renewal of the immature AML compartment, most likely through the perturbation of the gene expression landscape, which ultimately favors the expansion of MLL-AF9-transformed leukemic clones.
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MESH Headings
- Apoptosis
- Biomarkers, Tumor/genetics
- Biomarkers, Tumor/metabolism
- Cell Proliferation
- DNA-Binding Proteins/genetics
- DNA-Binding Proteins/metabolism
- Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic
- Hematopoietic Stem Cells/metabolism
- Hematopoietic Stem Cells/pathology
- Humans
- Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute/genetics
- Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute/metabolism
- Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute/pathology
- Myeloid-Lymphoid Leukemia Protein/genetics
- Myeloid-Lymphoid Leukemia Protein/metabolism
- Nucleophosmin
- Oncogene Proteins, Fusion/genetics
- Oncogene Proteins, Fusion/metabolism
- Prognosis
- Survival Rate
- Tumor Cells, Cultured
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Affiliation(s)
- Emanuela Chiarella
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University Magna Græcia, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy; (A.A.); (S.S.); (E.G.C.); (N.A.)
- Correspondence: (E.C.); (H.M.B.); (M.M.)
| | - Annamaria Aloisio
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University Magna Græcia, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy; (A.A.); (S.S.); (E.G.C.); (N.A.)
| | - Stefania Scicchitano
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University Magna Græcia, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy; (A.A.); (S.S.); (E.G.C.); (N.A.)
| | - Katia Todoerti
- Hematology, Fondazione IRCCS Ca’ Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, 20122 Milan, Italy; (K.T.); (A.N.)
- Department of Oncology and Hemato-Oncology, University of Milan, 20122 Milan, Italy
| | - Emanuela G. Cosentino
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University Magna Græcia, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy; (A.A.); (S.S.); (E.G.C.); (N.A.)
- Exiris S.r.l., 00128 Roma, Italy
- Department of Hematology, Cancer Research Centre Groningen, University Medical Centre Groningen, University of Groningen, 9712 CP Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Daniela Lico
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Pugliese-Ciaccio Hospital, University Magna Græcia, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy;
| | - Antonino Neri
- Hematology, Fondazione IRCCS Ca’ Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, 20122 Milan, Italy; (K.T.); (A.N.)
- Department of Oncology and Hemato-Oncology, University of Milan, 20122 Milan, Italy
| | - Nicola Amodio
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University Magna Græcia, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy; (A.A.); (S.S.); (E.G.C.); (N.A.)
| | - Heather Mandy Bond
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University Magna Græcia, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy; (A.A.); (S.S.); (E.G.C.); (N.A.)
- Correspondence: (E.C.); (H.M.B.); (M.M.)
| | - Maria Mesuraca
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University Magna Græcia, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy; (A.A.); (S.S.); (E.G.C.); (N.A.)
- Correspondence: (E.C.); (H.M.B.); (M.M.)
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Chiarella E, Codispoti B, Aloisio A, Cosentino EG, Scicchitano S, Montalcini Y, Lico D, Morrone G, Mesuraca M, Bond HM. Zoledronic acid inhibits the growth of leukemic MLL-AF9 transformed hematopoietic cells. Heliyon 2020; 6:e04020. [PMID: 32529062 PMCID: PMC7283156 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2020.e04020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/05/2020] [Revised: 05/13/2020] [Accepted: 05/15/2020] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
A leukemic in vitro model produced by transducing Cord Blood derived-hematopoietic CD34+ cells with the MLL-AF9 translocation resulting in the oncogenic fusion protein, is used to assess for sensitivity to Zoledronic acid. These cells are practically immortalized and are of myeloid origin. Proliferation, clonogenic and stromal co-culture assays showed that the MLL-AF9 cells were considerably more sensitive to Zoledronic acid than normal hematopoietic CD34+ cells or MS-5 stromal cells. The MLL-AF9 cells were notably more inhibited by Zoledronic acid when cultured as colonies in 3 dimensions, requiring cell-cell contacts compared to suspension expansion cultures. This is coherent with the mechanism of action of Zoledronic acid inhibiting farnesyl diphosphate synthase which results in a block in prenylation of GTPases such that their role in the membrane is compromised for cell-cell contacts. Zoledronic acid can be proposed to target the MLL-AF9 leukemic stem cells before they emerge from the hematopoietic niche, which being in proximity to bone osteoclasts where Zoledronic acid is sequestered can be predicted to result in sufficient levels to result in an anti-leukemic action.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emanuela Chiarella
- Laboratory of Molecular Haematopoiesis and Stem Cell Biology, Dept. of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University Magna Græcia, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy
| | - Bruna Codispoti
- Laboratory of Molecular Haematopoiesis and Stem Cell Biology, Dept. of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University Magna Græcia, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy.,Tecnologica Research Institute-Marrelli Health, 88900 Crotone, Italy
| | - Annamaria Aloisio
- Laboratory of Molecular Haematopoiesis and Stem Cell Biology, Dept. of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University Magna Græcia, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy
| | - Emanuela G Cosentino
- Laboratory of Molecular Haematopoiesis and Stem Cell Biology, Dept. of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University Magna Græcia, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy.,Exiris S.r.l., 00128 Roma, Italy
| | - Stefania Scicchitano
- Laboratory of Molecular Haematopoiesis and Stem Cell Biology, Dept. of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University Magna Græcia, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy
| | - Ylenia Montalcini
- Laboratory of Molecular Haematopoiesis and Stem Cell Biology, Dept. of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University Magna Græcia, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy
| | - Daniela Lico
- Department of Obstetrics & Ginecology, University Magna Græcia, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy
| | - Giovanni Morrone
- Laboratory of Molecular Haematopoiesis and Stem Cell Biology, Dept. of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University Magna Græcia, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy
| | - Maria Mesuraca
- Laboratory of Molecular Haematopoiesis and Stem Cell Biology, Dept. of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University Magna Græcia, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy
| | - Heather M Bond
- Laboratory of Molecular Haematopoiesis and Stem Cell Biology, Dept. of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University Magna Græcia, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy
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Luo X, Xu L, Wu X, Tan H, Liu L. Decreased SATB1 expression promotes AML cell proliferation through NF-κB activation. Cancer Cell Int 2019; 19:134. [PMID: 31130823 PMCID: PMC6525380 DOI: 10.1186/s12935-019-0850-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/11/2019] [Accepted: 05/07/2019] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Special AT-rich sequence-binding protein 1 (SATB1) is a chromatin-remodeling protein that regulates gene expressions in different types of cancer. Up-regulation of SATB1 is linked with progression of tumors. Our previous study showed that SATB1 expression was decreased in T cell leukemia/lymphoma. The contrary roles of SATB1 in solid organ tumors and hematology malignancy may provide hints to study the function of SATB1. Methods To characterize SATB1 mRNA and protein expression in acute myeloid leukemia (AML), we performed qRT-PCR and Western blot on bone marrow mononuclear cells from 52 newly diagnosed AML patients. Stable HL-60 cell lines with knockdown of SATB1 by shRNAs sequences (HL-60 SATB1-shRNA1 and HL-60 SATB1-shRNA2) were established. Cell proliferation, cell cycle and cell invasiveness were analyzed. Murine model was established using HL-60 SATB1-shRNAs treated nude mice and tumorigenicity was compared to study the role of SATB1 in vivo. Global gene expression profiles were analyzed in HL-60 cells with SATB1 knockdown to investigate the mechanisms underlying the regulation of AML cell growth by SATB1. Results We found that SATB1 expression was significantly decreased in patients with AML compared to normal control, and was increased after complete remission of AML. Knockdown of SATB1 enhanced the proliferation of HL-60 cells and accelerated S phase entry in vitro, and promoted the tumor growth in vivo. Global gene expression profiles were analyzed in HL-60 cells with SATB1 knockdown and the differentially expressed genes were involved in NF-κB, MAPK and PI3 K/Akt signaling pathways. Nuclear NF-κB p65 levels were significantly increased in SATB1 depleted HL-60 cells. Conclusions Decreased SATB1 expression promotes AML cell proliferation through NF-κB activation. SATB1 could be a predictor for better response to treatment in AML.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaodan Luo
- Department of Hematology, First Affiliated Hospital, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, 510230 China
| | - Lihua Xu
- Department of Hematology, First Affiliated Hospital, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, 510230 China
| | - Xiaohong Wu
- Department of Hematology, First Affiliated Hospital, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, 510230 China
| | - Huo Tan
- Department of Hematology, First Affiliated Hospital, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, 510230 China
| | - Lian Liu
- Department of Hematology, First Affiliated Hospital, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, 510230 China
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